MYSELF™ Classroom Program

Working with experts in the fields of mindfulness, behavioral analysis and social-emotional learning, Mindful Littles has developed a curriculum that creates positive behavioral change in students and educators. The MYSELF™ (Mindfulness, Yoga, Service, Social-Emotional Learning & Fun) program is a series of 20-minute weekly lessons, paired with supporting practices and micro-habits that teachers can infuse into class.

In each class, students and adults not only have the opportunity to practice tangible skills, but they can take practices home to sustain the practices on an ongoing basis.

Curriculum Overview

The MYSELF™ (Mindfulness, Yoga, Service, Social-Emotional Learning & Fun) curriculum is fundamentally rooted in the principles of self-compassion and agency as the means for building inner resilience and sparking compassionate action in youth. The name MYSELF™ implies that each student ultimately controls their own responses to different situations they encounter. As long as a student’s ability to respond (aka responsibility) is grounded in pure compassion, courage and faith in themselves then the responses will promote positive behavior for themselves and for the greater good.

Program components

Classroom lessons

Regular 20-minute lessons, delivered in-person or online, integrate mindfulness and SEL with movement, play and creativity, engaging students to experience and learn key compassion values. The lessons include exercises such as storytelling and discussion, science tips, movement/body awareness, problem-solving role play, and reflections. Topics include Positive Feelings, Difficult Feelings, Awe in the Ordinary, Gratitude in Abundance, and more.

Digital Content Supporting Sustained Habits​

In addition to classroom facilitation, we offer powerful digital content that reinforces our lesson concepts and sustains transformational outcomes in students. Our digital content includes simple, short and playful practices as video, audio, classroom visual aids and more to promote mindfulness habits. Our library of digital content is accessible to all educators.

Educator Self-Care​

In addition to MYSELF™ for our students, we support educators with will opportunities for self-care and nourishment. These can be in-person onsite, or can be accessed online at will. In these spaces, educators will have a chance to relax, refresh and recharge with simple mindfulness and yoga movements and practices designed especially for them.

“Through Mindful Littles, our students are developing a set of tools (purposeful breathing, positive self-talk, expression of gratitude, performing kind acts) to proactively mitigate feelings they are experiencing due to the recent significant traumatic event as well as other daily stressors. Additionally, the strategies are equipping the students with the skills and mindset to make a positive impact on our school community.”

-Edward Gregorio, Paradise Ridge Elementary School Principal

Want to see how our MYSELF™ program can serve your students?

The event had quite an impact on my 7-year-old son, Caden, who, after assembling hygiene kits at your Mindful Littles event, decided to raise money for the kids in Haiti on his own. I think what you are doing through the Mindful Littles program is wonderful, and it’s obviously having an impact on children near and far… I look forward to attending another one soon!

- Kim Morrow, Local Bay Area Parent

The work that Mindful Littles does is the antithesis of the violence. With the continued threat of mass shootings, with homegrown mental illness, you don’t arm people with weapons. You pay attention; you teach compassion, you educate and help community members. This is how we change. This is how we are going to fight the good fight; not with weapons and strategies of self-defense, but by being proactive with love. I believe Mindful Littles is the solution. It will awaken our youth and help contribute to a more positive future.

- Travis Groft, Veteran

A clinician just popped into my office and shared how one of our kids loved the positive words on the hygiene kit. The youth said it felt like Christmas – all because of a hygiene kit. Amazing.

- Beth Goldberg, Director of Development for Youth Homes

My time with Mindful Littles has solidified my commitment to youth development and empowerment, as I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing the wonderfully innovative ideas that littles have for the improvement of their communities. There are few things more gratifying than watching and helping littles turn their creativity into meaningful action, and I’m grateful to Mindful Littles for giving me the opportunity to do so.

-Iris Wu, Youth Leader, Age 19

Our Girl Scout troop was looking for something meaningful to do around the holidays. Mindful Littles made everything so easy and the core values of Mindful Littles and Girl Scouts were perfectly matched. The girls appeared at Las Trampas and were immediately put into action assisting disabled individuals with holiday activities and celebrating the holiday cheer. It was a labor of love on both ends. My daughter left the event and said, “That was awesome. Let’s do more of that."

- Jennifer LaForce, Bay Area Girl Scout Troop Leader

That was a really great event. I held more doors open for people in the last few days than I think I have in my life.🙂 Your words were heard.

-Jennifer Kamal, Local Bay Area Parent

Mindful Littles has led two programs for our community, one for parents and children called "The Courage to be Different," and one just for children about honoring seniors. Both were absolutely wonderful! It was a pleasure to collaborate with Tanuka in planning the programs. She and her team prepared thoughtful, engaging lessons that were meaningful to the families as well as being fun, interactive, and hands-on. I believe the lessons Mindful Littles brought to our community will stick with the children for a long time. I highly recommend Mindful Littles programs!

Working with Mindful Littles has been a life changing experience. Before volunteering with this group, I’d say I was guilty of not always incorporating compassion and mindfulness into my everyday life, but since I have started volunteering with this organization I have noticed a positive change within myself.

- Danielle Castro, Youth Leader, Age 17

Our Daisy Troop invited Tanuka Gordon of Mindful Littles to lead a class for our Kindergarten Daisy Scouts. Tanuka taught the girls through stories and pictures about what life is like for children living in Haiti. We decorated and put together pencil cases for students there. Tanuka also guided us through a mindful moment
incorporating yoga movements and breathing techniques. A few months later, the girls were thrilled to receive artwork back from the students in Haiti. We loved our Mindful Littles class and found that it helped to open the girls’ eyes to the world around them!

Mindful Littles was an integral part of our collaborative initiative, OrindaCares. OrindaCares is a partnership with Mindful Littles, the Orinda Union School District, Miramonte High School, and the City of Orinda. Mindful Littles provided not just the concept and strategy development for this partnership, but the project leadership and organization to make our initiative highly successful.

- Carolyn Seaton, Superintendent of Orinda Union School District

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